How many times do you have to say no to a tempting treat?  Once a week, twice a week, oh come on!  If you are like me it’s a constant saying no-to-treats battle.  I generally need a few treats daily to keep me smiling and content!

The remarkably beauty and eco-savvy Sally B created a line to treat our skin and it doesn’t add any calories, carbs, or guilt.  Just pure skin pleasure.

The Mythbuster Beauty Team got to sample several items from the Sally B Skin Yummies line.  Everything I tried, I loved.  Sally B’s skincare line is packed with high quality, skin nourishing ingredients.  No need to read through a mile-long ingredient list from Sally B. 

Body-Eco Lotion in Lavender ($32):  A fabulous lotion for the body, hands and feet this lotion offers just the right amount of moisture, absorbs well into the skin and has a fabulous sweet lavender scent.  Key Ingredients: Organic Tamanu Oil, Kukui Oil, Organic Green Tea, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Aloe.

Sally B’s Organic Sugar Scrub ($16 - 4oz, $30 - 8oz.):  “Most scrubs on the market are simple concoctions—either oil and sugar or oil and salt, and messy! And they must be stirred.  Salt can also be irritating to the skin and will certainly sting if you have any scratches.  Sally B’s Sugar Scrub is full of Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter and there is no need for stirring!”   So if this doesn’t convince you to try it, check out DecoDiva’s review:  Sally b’s Skin Yummies - Lemon Sage Sugar Scrub.  I’ve also heard that the Chamomile Neroli scrub is amazing.

B Glossy Organic Lip Gloss ($10) - I sampled this gloss in “Every Blond’s Pink,” a protecting lip gloss, with just a hint of pink tint that gives my lips subtle color and shine.  Sally B adds a bit of peppermint, which is perfect not overpowering, and this gloss can be used alone or layered with your favorite lip color.  Mo sampled “Copper Penny,” and DecoDiva loved her gloss in “Ruby’s Red.” (more…)

Here is something beyond fabulous from Urban Decay, and this week Mythbuster Beauty is giving away two of them!  Urban Essentials contains three Urban Decay must-haves. . . . an exclusive, oversized bottle of the coveted Eyeshadow Primer Potion (60% more!) and TWO full sized Eyeshadows—Midnight Cowboy and Goddess.

Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion is a cult-favorite product that gives you vibrant eye shadow color that lasts all day – without creasing!   It’s brilliant and I couldn’t wear my eyeshadow any other way.  UD’s Primer Potion was a top ten favorite at MBB for 2007:  Top Ten of 2007: Urban Decay’s Eye Primer Potion.

The two full-size eyeshadows are in Goddess (midnight blue w/ lots of electric blue microglitter), and Midnight Cowboy (subtle golden-beige w/ gold glitter).  They look beautiful paired up together and even better when using UD’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion.  The Urban Essentials Set retails for $39.00. 

Official Rules:  To enter this giveaway enter your name and email address in the contest machine box below, and subscribe to Mythbuster Beauty at the sidebar Feedburner link.  One entry per person and the deadline is at 1 am (EST) Thursday, November 27th, 2008.  TWO winners will be chosen at random and will be announced on Mythbuster Beauty, PRIZEY.Fetch, and contacted via email.  MBB will not share your email address with anyone, and only uses your email address to contact you if you are a winner.  This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada only.

Q: I Have Dark Circles and Puffiness! Help?

Learn how to solve this issue with products from Neutrogena, Olay and more, then ask us your big beauty questions

Several members, ages 25 to 50, on our message boards have asked what they can do to treat and hide dark circles and under-eye puffiness. We asked a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, skincare experts and makeup artists what to do to make these issues bearable. Here’s what they said …

View answer

The Body Shop recently released a new mineral makeup line called Nature’s Minerals.  The Nature’s Mineral Line is best for those wanting to achieve a healthy, radiant complexion with ultra-fine minerals that blend evenly to protect skin and reduce redness and imperfections.

Nature’s Minerals might be a great match for you if you have: normal to dry skin, sensitive skin, and you are looking for light to medium coverage.  This mineral makeup line contains:

• Kaolin clay and Mediterranean clay that are absorbent minerals that provide long-lasting coverage.
• Mica adds luster that has light-diffusing properties to help disguise fine lines and pores.
• Titanium dioxide and iron oxide protect skin from the sun without clogging pores.
• Dermatologist-tested with no added fillers, preservatives or fragrances.

How would you like to try this new mineral makeup line?  This week Mythbuster Beauty is giving away one set of Nature’s Mineral Makeup including one full size foundation, blush, and eye color of your choice (total retail value of $56!). 

Rules:  To enter this giveaway enter your name and email address in the contest machine box below.  One entry per person and the deadline is at 1 am (EST) Monday, November 17th, 2008.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced on Mythbuster Beauty, PRIZEY.Fetch, and contacted via email.  MBB will not share your email address with anyone, and only uses your email address to contact you if you are a winner.  This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada only.

Best wishes to all of you and keep posted for two more giveaways tba soon!

Top 10 at Mythbuster Beauty

• Deep Conditioning: How to Feed your Hair
• Bare Escentuals VS. Drug Store brand Mineral Makeup
• Drug Store Mineral Makeup: Maybe Not So Good
• Wonderful Facial mask recipes: Kitchen Cupboard Beauty
• Unwanted Facial Hair: What’s a gal to do?
• Mythbuster Beauty Reviews Baby Quasar and Baby Blue
• Week 3 of Naturally Curly Hair: No Blow Frying
• Does your makeup make you look older?
• All About Retinoids: Considering Retin-A
• The 3 Week Curly Girl Challenge: 1st Commandment

What do you think? These are the 10 top statistical posts at Mythbuster Beauty. Do you have any favorites? Let me know and I can run yours in a reader’s choice favorite list!

New! Discount Deals of the Week.  Check out more free samples, beauty product steals and contests from top brands like Clinique. Hurry, they won’t last long! 

Everyone loves a good bargain, which is why we’ve rounded up some of the best deals, sample offers and contest opportunities from favorite beauty brands like Estee Lauder, Clinique, Smashbox, Bare Escentuals and more. Take advantage — they’ll only be around for another few weeks!

Shop deals

Finally, how to nip your two most agonizing skin issues in the bud.
 

Acne is bad enough during your teen years but aging beneath incessant breakouts is no fun either. While you might be thankful your hormones are still raging, keep any negative effects under control (and out of your mirror) by following these tips from top skin doctors and estheticians.

Get tips

Guess what showed up in my mailbox this afternoon?  The newest Sephora Holiday Catalog, “tis the season to GIFT PRETTY!”  And how fitting given that their Friends and Family 20% discount starts today (FF2008 at checkout).   I am a bit ticked that that dang-blasted LASH STASH is out-of-stock though!!!                                                                                                 

This year Sephora is celebrating their 10th year, and to have some fun let’s speculate about what beauty products might be in the Sephora catalogs in 2018. Here are my predictions for Sephora’s beauty products of the FUTURE:

1. DIY non-toxic injectible Botox kits - let’s hope this one enters the market soon!
2. BE’s Moon Mineral Makeup line (made from actual Moon Dust Minerals)
3. In response for the need for more eco savvy beauty containers, Sephora will create re-usable containers that can be cleaned and recycled, AND you can refill your cosmetics and skincare items from bulk dispensers!

I better hire my patent attorney (Laurel are you there?) and get these ideas protected ASAP.  I really like that last one!

Without a doubt Beauty.com is announcing their big Friends and Family Event this week to usurp Sephora’s.

Beauty.com Friends and Family Event:  Wednesday, November 5th - Friday, November 7th - 20% all beauty brands (excluding NARS and Kooba).

May the best deals win, and have fun y’all.  Tasha knows, she always knows the deals!

I’m sure you have all heard that getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night is optimal for your health.   Sleep is our bodies’ way of renewing itself and recuperating from the stress and the daily wear and tear of life.  I honestly try to get my full 7 to 8 hours, heck, and I’d love 9 if I could manage it, but realistically women have many responsibilities that don’t always stop when the lights go off.  Between pets, kids and toys that spontaneously start *bleeping* in the wee hours, we often don’t get what our bodies need. 

I recently received a letter from a busy mother of four even busier children.  Becky writes,

Dear Jen,

I have a question for my friend the beauty blogger….what can I do about these puffy, dark eyes that I have? (Thanks in large part, I am sure to my beautiful new daughter! :)) Do you have any ideas? I am currently using a Bobbi Brown eye moisturizing cream, but it does not seem to be doing the trick. I’d love any ideas.

I completely understand Becky, the one place that really shows the lack of sleep (and our age) are our eyes. 

About the eyes.  I have tried several eye creams in the past year and what I am discovering is that a lighter cream is actually better for puffiness; this is because a heavier cream holds in too much moisture and can increase puffiness.  As a quick home remedy that I would recommend is splashing cold water around your eyes in the morning or using a cold compress or sliced cold cucumber slices for a few minutes as a way to reduce any swelling or puffiness around your eyes.

Dark circles are another issue and many creams claim to reduce them, but be very skeptical of their promises.  According to Paula Begoun (The Cosmetic Cop),

“Dark circles can be caused by several factors, and each one needs to be dealt with in a different way. Dark circles can be caused by sun damage, veins and capillaries that show through skin, irritation, and the natural dark pigment that can occur in this area. They can also be a result of natural shadows that fall within the eye area, making that area appear darker. Plus, dark circles can be a result of dry skin making the area look dull and tired.

If you have allergies, you may want to consider an antihistamine. Although uncommon, food allergies may also be to blame, but this would need to be confirmed by an allergist. City pollution can get to your eyes by the day’s end, too, so you may want to use an air filter in your home or office.” (more…)